Portable terminal equipment

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a portable terminal equipment using a battery as a power source. The equipment determines whether or not battery voltage VB is lower than a voltage value V 1  in a standby state or a speaking state (ST 1  and ST 8 ). The voltage value V 1  is set to such a value that the equipment is capable of generating an outgoing call and making a speech during a set period of time, when the battery voltage VB is equal to the value V 1 . When VB&lt;V 1 , the equipment shifts to a low-consumption standby mode in which a small amount of current is consumed (ST 14 ). When the equipment is set to a speaking state, it generates a warning by means of alerting voice and so on to warn the user that the telephone communication will be broken after a expiration of a set period of time (ST 10 ) . Further, the equipment breaks the telephone communication (ST 15 ) after the set period of time, for example, one minute (ST 12 ) has elapsed since said the warning and then the equipment shifts to the low-consumption standby mode (ST 14 ). Therefore, the user can generate another outgoing call after a break of the telephone communication and the possibility of generating the outgoing call at any necessary time increases. When a set period of time, for example, one minute has elapsed since the equipment is brought into the speaking state by the outgoing call generated from the low-consumption standby mode, the telephone communication is broken after warning to the user the break of telephone communication with the alerting voice, etc. and then the operation of telephone main body is stopped.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a portable terminal equipment such as aportable telephone or the like. In details, the present inventionrelates to a portable terminal equipment capable of being operated withease by shifting the equipment to a low-consumption standby mode inwhich a small amount of current is consumed when residual capacity of abattery is less than a predetermined value which represents the residualcapacity of battery being capable of generating an outgoing call, in astandby state or a speaking state and by increasing the possibility ofgenerating the outgoing call at necessary time.

TECHNICAL FIELD

In a simplified type portable telephone such as PHS (Personal HandyphoneSystem), the voltage value of battery is detected in a standby state ora speaking state thereof and when said detected voltage value is lessthan a predetermined value, the user is warned with an alerting sound oran indication such that residual usable time of the battery is shortenedand this causes the user to put the battery on charge and then theoperation of the telephone main body is stopped when the voltage valueof battery is less than the voltage value by which the telephone isnormally operable to be used as the portable telephone.

When the user is warned with the alerting sound and so on while he orshe is speaking by telephone, the requirement is briefly transmitted tothe called party and then the possibility that the telephonecommunication may be broken, is also transmitted to the called party.However, it is impossible to generate the outgoing call to anothercalled party after finishing the telephone communication. Usually, thiscauses the inconvenience for the user because the necessity to generatethe outgoing call after finishing a telephone communication is elevated.Further, This also causes the inconvenience for the user because theoutgoing call of the telephone may not be generated when the voltagevalue of battery is less than the voltage value by which the telephoneis normally operable to be used as the portable telephone after warningwith the alerting sound and so on in the standby state.

Hence, it is an object of the present invention to provide a portableterminal equipment capable of being operated with ease by increasing thepossibility of generating an outgoing call at necessary time.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided a portableterminal equipment comprising a residual-capacity-detecting means fordetecting a residual capacity of a battery, a firstresidual-capacity-judging means for judging whether or not the residualcapacity of battery detected by said residual-capacity-detecting meansis less than a first predetermined value which designates the residualcapacity of battery being capable of generating the outgoing call, asecond residual-capacity-judgment means for judging whether or not saidresidual capacity of battery detected by saidresidual-capacity-detecting means is less than a second predeterminedvalue which is less than said first predetermined value, and a systemcontrol means. Said system control means controls the system so that theequipment main body system shifts to a low-consumption standby mode inwhich a small amount of current is consumed, when said firstresidual-capacity-judging means judges that said detected residualcapacity of battery is less than said first predetermined value and sothat the operation of equipment main body is stopped when said secondresidual-capacity-judgment means judges that said detected residualcapacity of battery is less than said second predetermined value. Theequipment comprises further a warning generating means for generating awarning and the system control means may control the system so that saidwarning generating means generates the warning when the equipment shiftsfrom the speaking state to the low-consumption standby mode but saidwarning generating means does not generate the warning when theequipment shifts from the standby state to the low-consumption standbymode.

The residual capacity of battery is detected by theresidual-capacity-detecting means. The detection of the residualcapacity of battery is carried out by, for example, detecting thevoltage value of battery. Alternatively, said detection is carried outby calculating the product of consumed current by the operating time ofthe equipment. When the residual capacity of battery is less than thefirst predetermined value which designates the residual capacity ofbattery being capable of generating the outgoing call, the equipmentshifts to a low-consumption standby mode in which a small amount ofcurrent is consumed. When the residual capacity of battery is equal tothe first predetermined value, it is possible, for example, to generatethe outgoing call and to make a telephone communication for a set periodof time.

In said low-consumption standby mode, an operation, for example, only anoperation of generating the outgoing call, is accessed by said systemcontrol means. When the equipment shifts from the speaking state to thelow-consumption standby mode, the warning generating means generates awarning and this warns the user that the equipment will shift to thelow-consumption standby mode. When the equipment shifts from standbystate to the low-consumption mode, the warning generating means does notgenerate the warning and thus the power consumption therefor isdiminished. Further, when the residual capacity of battery is less thanthe second predetermined value, the operation of the equipment main bodyis stopped.

Additionally, the portable terminal equipment of this inventioncomprising a residual-capacity-detecting means for detecting a residualcapacity of a battery, a first residual-capacity-judgment means forjudging whether or not the residual capacity of battery detected by saidresidual-capacity-detecting means is less than a first predeterminedvalue which designates the residual capacity of the battery beingcapable of generating the outgoing call, and a system control means. Thesystem control means controls the system so that the terminal equipmentmain body shifts to the low-consumption standby state in which a smallamount of current is consumed when the first residual-capacity-judgmentmeans judges that the detected residual capacity of the battery is lessthan the first predetermined value. Further, the system control meanscontrols the system so that the operation of equipment main body isstopped after a break of telephone communication when a set period oftime has elapsed after generating call from the low-consumption mode andbeing brought into a speaking state of the equipment.

The residual capacity of battery is detected by theresidual-capacity-judgment. When the residual capacity of battery isless than the first predetermined value which designates the residualcapacity of battery being capable of generating the outgoing call, theequipment shifts to the low-consumption standby mode in which a smallamount of current is consumed. In the low-consumption standby mode, anoperation, for example, only an operation of generating the outgoingcall is accessed by said system control means. When a set period of thetime has elapsed since the equipment shifts from low-consumption standbymode to the speaking state following the operation of generating theoutgoing call, the telephone communication is broken and then theoperation of the equipment main body is stopped. Because such aconstitution that the telephone communication is forcibly broken after aset period of time has elapsed, is constituted in this invention, thewarning to the user by the warning generating means, for example, beforethe break of the telephone communication carries out in the state thatthe battery still has enough residual capacity to some degree.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the constitution of a simplified typeportable telephone as a best mode of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the simplified type portable telephone(where a key-protecting lid is detached).

FIG. 3 is a side view showing the simplified type portable telephone.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the voltage VB ofbattery and each of the voltage values, V1, V2.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart (1/2) showing an operational control of themicrocomputer in the standby state or the speaking state.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart (2/2) showing an operational control of themicrocomputer in the standby state or the speaking state.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a simplified type portable telephone 10 according to anembodiment as the best mode of this invention.

The telephone 10 is provided with a microcomputer 11 for controlling asystem, an antenna 12 for the transmission and reception of signal, awireless unit 13 downconverting a receiving signal at a predeterminedfrequency caught by the antenna 12 to provide a π/4 shift QPSK(Quadrature Phase Shift Keying) signal and upconverting a π/4 shift QPSKsignal outputted from a digital modulating and demodulating unit 14,mentioned later, to provide a transmitting signal at a predeterminedfrequency, and the digital modulating and demodulating unit 14demodulating the π/4 shift QPSK signal outputted from the wireless unit13 to provide the receiving data and modulating the transmitting dataoutputted from a TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) processing unit,mentioned later, to provide the π/4 shift QPSK signal.

The telephone 10 is also provided with the TDMA processing unit 15 forselecting the data of down slots, which are previously set, from areceiving data (time division multiplex data in a plurality of slots)outputted from the digital modulating and demodulating unit 14, forseparating the data into control data and compressed voice data and formultiplexing the compressed voice data outputted from a voice codecunit, mentioned later, and the control data outputted from themicrocomputer 11 to the up slots which are previously set.

Further, the telephone 10 is provided with the voice codec unit 16 forcarrying out decoding processing (including error correcting processing)in respect of the compressed voice data outputted from the TDMAprocessing unit 15 to provide a receiving voice signal and for carryingout compressed code forming processing (including an additionalprocessing of the error correcting processing) in respect of atransmitting voice signal to provide the compressed voice data, aspeaker (receiver) 17 for being supplied with the receiving voice signaloutputted from the voice codec unit 16 and a microphone (transmitter) 18for supplying a transmitting voice signal to the voice codec unit 16.

Additionally, the telephone 10 is provided with a DTMF modulating anddemodulating unit 19 for converting a DTMF (Dual Tone MultipleFrequency) signal provided at the voice codec unit 16 as a receivingvoice signal into key data in correspondence with special input keyssuch as “*” and “#” or ten keys of “0” through “9” to supply the data tothe microcomputer 11 and for converting the key data in correspondencewith special input keys such as “*” and “#” or ten keys of “0” through“9” outputted from the microcomputer 11 into the DTMF signal to supplyit to the voice codec unit 16 as a transmitting voice signal, and aconversion format storing unit 20 for converting the key data outputtedfrom the DTMF modulating and demodulating unit 19 into character data.The conversion format storing unit 20 is connected to the microcomputer11.

Still further, the telephone 10 is provided with a voice recording andreproducing unit 21 for recording a receiving voice signal provided bythe voice codec unit 16 and for reproducing a recorded receiving voicesignal or a previously recorded answer message (voice signal) byoperation of a key input unit, mentioned later, or control of themicrocomputer 11 in an absence recording mode, a vibration generatingunit 22 for vibrating a telephone main body by control of themicrocomputer 11 when a signal is received in the case where a vibrationmode is set, and an alerting sound output unit 23 for outputtingalerting sound by control of the microcomputer 11 when a signal isreceived in the case where the vibration mode is not set. In this case,the voice recording and reproducing unit 21 is provided with, forexample, a semiconductor memory as a storage medium for a voice signal.Operation of the voice recording and reproducing unit 21 is controlledby the microcomputer 11 and a signal indicating the operational state ofthe voice recording and reproducing unit 21 is supplied from the unit 21to the microcomputer 11.

Further, the telephone 10 is provided with the key input unit 24arranged with a speaking key for instructing an outgoing call or forresponding when called, a termination key for terminating speech, afunction key for shifting to a telephone book registering mode and forsetting an absence recording mode or a vibration mode and so on, tenkeys and special input keys for inputting a telephone number or the likeand a recording key, a reproducing key and soon each of which isprovided for operating the recording and reproducing of the voicerecording and reproducing unit 21. The key input unit 24 is connected tothe microcomputer 11 and key operation of the key input unit 24 ismonitored by the microcomputer 11.

Further, the telephone 10 is provided with a non-volatile memory 25 forstoring telephone book data, redial data, character message datatransmitted from the called party, mode setting information and so on, atimer unit 28 for counting a time period from an arbitrary time point bycontrol of the microcomputer 11 and a liquid crystal display (LCD:Liquid Crystal Display) 26 for displaying a state of a system, thetelephone number of the called party in calling and character messagetransmitted from the called party and so on. The liquid crystal display26 is driven by an LCD driver 27 controlled by the microcomputer 11.

Further, the telephone 10 is provided with a connection switch 30 forsupplying a power from the battery 29 to each circuits of the telephoneexclusive of the microcomputer 11, and A/D (analog-to-digital) converter31 for converting the voltage VB of battery 29 into a digital signal tosupply it to the microcomputer 11. The microcomputer 11 manages to keepvarious controls of the telephone, as mentioned later, in such way as todetect the voltage of battery 29 from the output data of the A/Dconverter 31, to compare said detected voltage with the voltage valuesV1, V2 (V1>V2) which are stored in the ROM (Read Only Memory) built inthe microcomputer 11 and to shift the telephone into the low-consumptionmode thereof.

The voltage value V1 is set to such a value that the telephone iscapable of generating an outgoing call and to make a telephonecommunication for a set period of time, for example, more than twominutes, when the voltage VB of battery is equal to the voltage valueV1. The voltage value V2 is set to such a value that the telephone isnormally operable to be used as the portable telephone when voltage VBof battery is more than the voltage value V2. FIG. 4 shows therelationship between the voltage VB of a power source and each of thevoltage values V1, V2. Curve a shows the relationship between the timeand the voltage VB of battery in the speaking state of the telephone,and curve b shows the relationship between the time and the voltage VBof battery in the standby state of the telephone. The electric power issupplied directly from the battery 29 to the microcomputer 11.

FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show the outlook of the telephone 10 and the samenotations attaching thereto show portions in correspondence with thosein FIG. 1.

The antenna 12 is arranged at the upper end portion of a telephone mainbody 40. Further, voice passing holes 41 for leading out voice from abuilt-in speaker to outside is formed at an upper portion of the mainbody 40 and the liquid crystal display 26 is arranged thereunder.Further, the microphone 18 is arranged at a lower portion of the mainbody 40. Further, a speaking key 42, a function key 43 and a terminationkey 44 are arranged to align laterally at a central portion of the mainbody 40 and on the lower side of the liquid crystal display 26. Thetermination key 44 constitutes a power ON/OFF key when it is pushed fora long period of time.

Additionally, cursor moving keys 45 for moving the cursor up and down toright and left, a registration key 46 for registering a telephone book,a clear key 47 for clearing input data, ten keys 48 and special inputkeys 49 and 50 are arranged on the lower side of the keys 42 through 44.In this case, “↑” key constituting the cursor moving key 45 serves alsoas a key for initiating the search of redial data or telephone book dataand “↓” key serves also as a key for shifting to a charactertransmitting mode during a telephone communication and for confirmingreceived character data.

Further, the main body 40 is arranged with a key-protecting lid 51 whichis constituted openably and closably with a portion of arranging themicrophone 18 as a fulcrum. By closing the key-protecting lid 51, thekeys 45 through 50 are covered. Therefore, it is necessary to operatethe keys 45 through 50 in a state where the key-protecting lid 51 isopened. Incidentally, FIG. 2 shows a telephone in a state where the keyprotecting lid 51 is removed.

Further, a recording key 52 and a reproducing key 53 each of which isprovided for operating recording and reproducing of the voice recordingand reproducing unit 21 (see FIG. 1) and a sound volume adjusting key 54for adjusting sound volume, are arranged at a side face of the main body40. The sound volume adjusting key 54 is constituted such that when +side thereof is operated to push, the sound volume is increased andconversely, when − side is operated to push, the sound volume isreduced.

Next, an explanation will be given of the operation of the telephone 10shown by FIG. 1.

When the power source is made ON, the telephone is brought to a statewhere the synchronism with a control channel is made off andaccordingly, establishment of synchronism with the control channel iscarried out after receiving the control channel transmitted from a cellstation. Further, thereafter, location registration indicating that thetelephone stays within the service area of the service station iscarried out. The location registration is carried out by using aspeaking channel. After finishing the location registration, thetelephone returns to its control channel receiving state and is broughtinto a standby state.

When the telephone number of called party is inputted by key operationat the key input unit 24 (ten keys 48 or the like), or the speaking key42 is operated after searching redial data or telephone book data,telephone number data or the like are firstly supplied to the TDMAprocessing unit 15 as control data by the microcomputer 11 and aretransmitted to the cell station via the control channel. Thereby, thetelephone communication is made to the called party and a speaking stateis brought about.

In this case, although telephone communication is carried out by usingthe speaking channel, in processing the telephone communication, thecommunication frequency data of the speaking channel and the datarelating to the slot positions each of which are transmitted as controldata from the cell station by using the control channel, are supplied tothe microcomputer 11 via the TDMA processing unit 15. The microcomputer11 makes the transmission and reception frequency coincide with thecommunication frequency of the speaking channel by controlling thewireless unit 13 based on the communication frequency data and setsslots selected by the TDMA processing unit 15 on the basis of the slotposition data. Accordingly, telephone communication is carried out byusing the speaking channel informed from the cell station.

Further, in the case that call data is supplied to the microcomputer 11via the TDMA processing unit 15 and reception of signal is detected whenthe call data is transmitted as control data from the cell station byusing the control channel, the alerting sound output unit 23 iscontrolled by the microcomputer 11 and thus the alerting sound isoutputted thereby. Alternatively, the telephone main body 40 is vibratedby controlling the vibration generating unit 22 by the microcomputer 11.

When the speaking key 42 is operated and a response is produced in astate that the call operation is being carried out, response data issupplied as control data from the microcomputer 11 to the TDMAprocessing unit 15 and is transmitted to the cell station via thecontrol channel. Thereby, the connection with the called party iscarried out and the speaking state is brought about. Also in this case,telephone communication is carried out by using the speaking channelinformed from the cell station.

In the speaking state, compressed voice data transmitted via thespeaking channel is outputted from the TDMA processing unit 15. Thecompressed voice data is supplied to the voice codec unit 16, subjectedto a decoding processing and thereafter converted into an analog signal.Further, the received voice signal outputted from the voice codec unit16 is supplied to the speaker 17 and voice is outputted from the speaker17.

Further, a transmitting voice signal outputted from the microphone 18 issupplied to the voice codec unit 16, converted into a digital signal andthereafter subjected to compressed code forming processing wherebycompressed voice data is formed. Further, the compressed voice dataoutputted from the voice codec unit 16 is supplied to the TDMAprocessing unit 15 and is transmitted to the called party via thespeaking channel.

In this case, by operating “↓” key of the cursor moving key 45,transmission of character data can be carried out by using the ten keys48 or the special input keys 49 and 50. In this case, DTMF signals incorrespondence with the operated keys are outputted from the DTMFmodulating and demodulating unit 19 and is supplied to the voice codecunit 16 as a transmitting voice signal.

Further, when the telephone is set to an absence recording mode in thecase where the call data are supplied from the TDMA processing unit 15to the microcomputer 11 and the reception of signal is detected asmentioned above, a response is made automatically after outputtingalerting sound for a predetermined period of time, and the speakingstate is brought about. Further, after transmitting to the calling sidethe response message that a received voice signal will be recorded,recording of the received voice signal is started at the voice recordingand reproducing unit 21.

Further, when character message data by a DTMF signal are transmittedfrom the called party during an absence recording or during a telephonecommunication, key data outputted from the DTMF modulating anddemodulating unit 19 is converted into character data based on controlof the microcomputer 11 in reference to the conversion format storingunit 20 and the character data is written to a character message area ofthe non-volatile memory 25. When the character data is written to thenon-volatile memory 25 in this way, the character message of thecharacter data is displayed on the liquid crystal display 26 and can beconfirmed by operating to push “↑” key of the cursor moving key 45 for along period of time.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are flowcharts showing an operational control of themicrocomputer in the standby state or the speaking state of thetelephone.

First, at step ST1, it is determined whether the voltage value VB ofbattery in the standby state of the telephone is less than the voltagevalue V1 based on the output data of the A/D converter 31. When VB<V1 isnot established, at step ST2, it is whether an incoming call hasarrived. When the incoming call has not arrived, at step3, it isdetermined whether operation for generating an outgoing call has beencarried out. The operation for generating the outgoing call means theoperations such as the input operation of telephone number data by dialkey (ten key 48 etc), the operation for searching the redial data andthe telephone book data by keys “↑” and “↓” constituting the cursormoving keys 45.

When, at step ST3, the operation for generating the outgoing call hasnot been carried out, the operation returns to step ST1. When, at stepST3, the operation for generating the outgoing call has been carriedout, at step ST4, a timer 1 is started. The timer 1 is constituted bythe timer unit and is reset at starting operation. The same goes withthe timers 2 to 5, mentioned later.

At step ST5, it is determined whether the speaking key 42 has beenoperated. When the speaking key 42 has not been operated, at step ST6,it is determined whether time t1, for example, 20 seconds, has elapsed.When the time t1 has not elapsed, the operation returns to the step ST5.When the speaking key 42 has been operated, at step ST7, the telephoneis brought into the speaking state.

Next, at step ST8, it is determined whether the voltage value VB ofbattery is less than the voltage value V1 based on the output data ofthe A/D converter 31. When VB<V1 is not established, at step ST9, it iswhether the speech termination key 44 has been operated or whether thetelephone communication has been broken. When the operation of thespeech termination key 44 and the break of telephone communication isnot made, the operation returns to the step ST8. When the operation ofthe speech termination key 44 and the break of telephone communicationis made, the operation returns to the step ST1.

When, at step ST8, VB<V1 is established, at step ST10, the warning thattelephone communication will be broken after the expiration of the timet2, for example, one minute, is generated. In this case, warning messagedata which are previously stored in the recording media are read out bythe voice recording and reproducing unit 21 and alerting voice isoutputted from the speaker 17. Alerting sound may be outputted, forexample, by using also the alerting sound output unit 23.

Next, at step ST11, the timer 2 is started. Then, at step ST12, it isdetermined whether time t2 has elapsed. When the time t2 has notelapsed, at step ST13, it is whether the speech termination key 44 hasbeen operated or whether the telephone communication has been broken.When the operation of the speech termination key 44 and the break oftelephone communication is not made, the operation returns to the stepST12. When the operation of the speech termination key 44 and the breakof telephone communication is made, the operation goes to the step ST14.When, at step ST12, the time t2 has elapsed, at step 15, telephonecommunication is broken and the operation goes to the step ST14.

When, at step ST2, the incoming call has arrived, at step ST16, it isdetermined whether the speaking key 42 has been operated. When thespeaking key 42 has not been operated, at step ST17, it is determinedwhether the arrival of incoming call has finished. When the arrival ofincoming call has not finished, the operation returns to the step ST16.When the arrival of incoming call has finished, the operation returns tothe step ST1. When, at step ST16, the speaking key 42 has been operated,the operation goes to the step ST7 and the telephone is brought into thespeaking state.

Further, at step ST14, the telephone shifts to the low-consumptionstandby mode. In other words, the microcomputer 11 control theconnection switch 30 opened. Thus, the electric power is not supplied toevery circuit exclusive of the microcomputer 11. Only a key operation ofthe key input unit 24 is accessed by the microcomputer 11.

Next, at step ST18, it is determined whether the voltage value VB ofbattery is less than the voltage value V2 based on the output data ofthe A/D converter 31. When VB<V2 is established, at step ST19, theoperation (function) of telephone main body is stopped.

When VB<V2 is not established, at step ST20, it is whether a key hasbeen operated. When any key has not been operated, the operation returnsto the step ST18.

When a key has been operated, at step ST21, the connection switch 30 isbrought into ON state and the telephone main body starts its operation.In this case, liquid crystal display 26 is brought into a display stateand thus display the message, such as “one more call” which means thatthe generation of outgoing call is limited to only one occasion.

Next, step ST22, the timer 3 is started and, at step ST23, it isdetermined whether the operation for generating the outgoing call hascarried out. When the operation for generating the outgoing call has notcarried out, at step ST24, it is determined whether time t3, forexample, 20 seconds, has elapsed. When the time t3 has not elapsed, theoperation returns to the step ST23. When the time t3 has elapsed, theoperation returns to the step ST14 and thus the telephone shifts againto the low-consumption mode.

When, at step ST23, the operation for generating the outgoing call hascarried out, at step ST25, timer 4 is started and then, at step ST26, itis determined whether the speaking key 42 has been operated. When thespeaking key 42 has not been operated, at step ST27, it is determinedwhether time t4, for example, 20 seconds, has elapsed. When the time t4has not elapsed, the operation returns to the step ST26. When the timet4 has not elapsed, the operation returns to the step ST26. When thetime t4 has elapsed, the operation returns to the step ST14 and thus thetelephone shifts again to the low-consumption mode.

When, at step ST26, the speaking key 42 has been operated, at step ST28,the telephone is brought into the speaking state. At step ST29, timer 5is stated and, at step ST30, it is determined whether time t5, forexample, one minute, has elapsed. When the time t5 has not elapsed, atstep ST31, it is determined whether the voltage value VB of battery isless than the voltage value V2 based on the output data of the A/Dconverter 31. When VB<V2 is not established, at step ST32, it is whetherthe speech termination key 44 has been operated or whether the telephonecommunication has been broken. When the operation of the speechtermination key 44 and the break of telephone communication is not made,the operation returns to the step ST30.

When, at step ST30, the time t5 has elapsed, the warning that telephonecommunication is broken promptly, is generated. In this case, warningmessage data which are previously stored in the recording media are readout by the voice recording and reproducing unit 21 and alerting voice isoutputted from the speaker 17. Alerting sound may be outputted, forexample, by using also the alerting sound output unit 23. As such analerting sound, alerting sound other than the one used in the step ST10may be used. At step ST34, the telephone communication is broken andthen, at step 19, the operation (function) of telephone main body isstopped.

When, at step ST31, VB<V2 is established, the operation goes to the stepST33 in which the same operations as the case that the time t5 haselapsed as described above, are carried out. Further, when, at stepST32, the operation of the speech termination key 44 and the break oftelephone communication is made, the operation goes to the step ST34 andthe telephone communication is promptly broken and then, at step 19, theoperation (function) of telephone main body is stopped.

In this embodiment, when the voltage VB of battery is less than thevoltage value V1 in the standby stage or the speaking state, thetelephone shifts to the low-consumption mode in which a small amount ofcurrent is consumed. In this case, the telephone shifts to thelow-consumption mode after breaking the telephone communication in thecase of the speaking mode. Therefore, the telephone having the residualcapacity of battery such that it is possible to speak for a set periodof time t5, for example, one minute after generating again the outgoingcall, may shift to the low-consumption mode. Thus, it is possible togenerate again the outgoing call after breaking the telephonecommunication, as described before and the telephone is capable of beingoperated with ease.

Further, when the voltage VB of battery is less than the voltage valueV1 in the speaking state, the telephone is brought into the state ofbreaking the telephone communication after the time t2, for example, oneminute has elapsed since warning the user by the alerting voice and/orsound. Therefore, this invention prevents telephone from such aninconvenience that the telephone communication is suddenly broken andthus the conversation is finished abnormally. When the voltage VB ofbattery is less than the voltage value V1 in the state of breakingtelephone communication, the equipment shifts directly to thelow-consumption standby mode without warning the user by the alertingvoice and/or sound and thus, the electric power necessary for thewarning is saved.

Further, when the time t5, for example, one minute has elapsed aftergenerating again the outgoing call or the voltage value VB of battery isless than the voltage value V2, the telephone is brought into the stateof breaking the telephone communication after warning the user by thealerting voice and/or sound and then the operation (function) of thetelephone main body is stopped. Therefore, the user may acknowledge thestop of the operation (function) of the telephone main body caused bythe minimum residual capacity of the battery, which is capable ofoperating normally the telephone as the portable telephone. Thetelephone communication is forcibly broken after the time t5 has elapsedand thus the warning to the user by the warning generating means, forexample, may carry out before the break of the telephone communicationin the state that the battery still has enough residual capacity to somedegree.

Although, in the embodiment above, the detection of the residualcapacity of battery is carried out by detecting the voltage value ofbattery, said detection of this invention may be carried out bycalculating the product of the consumed current by the operating time ofthe telephone.

Further, although according to the above-described embodiments, thepresent invention is applied to a simplified type portable telephone, itis without a doubt that the present invention is applicable similarly toother portable terminal equipment.

Industrial Applicability

As described above, a portable terminal equipment according to thepresent invention is preferably applied to a portable terminal equipmentof a simplified type portable telephone or the like using the battery asthe power source.

What is claimed is:
 1. A portable terminal equipment comprising: aresidual-capacity-detecting means for detecting a residual capacity of abattery; a first residual-capacity-judging means for judging whether ornot the residual capacity of battery detected by saidresidual-capacity-detecting means is less than a first predeterminedvalue, said first predetermined value designating the residual capacityof the battery being capable of generating at least one outgoing call; asecond residual-capacity-judging means for judging whether or not saidresidual capacity of battery detected by saidresidual-capacity-detecting means is less than a second predeterminedvalue, said second predetermined value being less than said firstpredetermined value; warning-generating means for generating a warning;and system control means; wherein said system control means controls thesystem so that the equipment main body shifts to a low-consumptionstandby mode in which a small amount of current is consumed, when saidfirst residual-capacity-judging means judges that said detected residualcapacity of battery is less than said first predetermined value; whereinsaid system control means controls the system so that saidwarning-generating means generates the warning when the equipment mainbody shifts from a speaking state to said low-consumption standby modebut said warning-generating means does not generate the warning when theequipment main body shifts from a standby state to said low-consumptionstandby mode; and wherein said system control means controls the systemso that the operation of said equipment main body is stopped when saidsecond residual-capacity-judging means judges that said detectedresidual capacity of battery is less than said second predeterminedvalue.
 2. A portable terminal equipment according to claim 1, whereinonly an operation for generating the outgoing call is accessed by saidsystem control means in said low-consumption standby mode.
 3. A portableterminal equipment according to claim 1, wherein said system controlmeans controls the system so that the equipment main body shifts to thelow-consumption standby mode after breaking the telephone communicationwhen said first residual-capacity-judging means judges that saiddetected residual capacity of battery is less than said firstpredetermined value, in a speaking state of the equipment.
 4. A portableterminal equipment according to claim 3, wherein said system controlmeans controls said warning-generating means so that thewarning-generating means generates the warning at a set period of timebefore the telephone communication is broken.
 5. A portable terminalequipment according to claim 1, wherein said system control meanscontrols the system so that the operation of the equipment main body isstopped after breaking the telephone communication when said secondresidual-capacity-judging means judges that said detected residualcapacity of battery is less than said second predetermined value, in aspeaking state of the equipment.
 6. A portable terminal equipmentaccording to claim 5, wherein said system control means controls saidwarning-generating means so that the warning-generating means generatesthe warning before the telephone communication is broken.
 7. A portableterminal equipment comprising: a residual-capacity-detecting means fordetecting a residual capacity of a battery; a firstresidual-capacity-judging means for judging whether or not the residualcapacity of battery detected by said residual-capacity-detecting meansis less than a first predetermined value, the value designating theresidual capacity of the battery being capable of generating at leastone outgoing call; and a system control means; wherein said systemcontrol means controls the system so that the equipment main body shiftsto a low-consumption standby mode in which a small amount of current isconsumed, when said first residual-capacity-judging means judges thatsaid detected residual capacity of battery is less than said firstpredetermined value; and wherein said system control means controls thesystem so that the operation of the equipment main body is stopped aftera break of telephone communication when a set period of time has elapsedafter generating an outgoing call from said low-consumption standby modeand being brought into said speaking state.
 8. A portable terminalequipment according to claim 7 comprising: a secondresidual-capacity-judging means for judging whether or not said residualcapacity of battery detected by said residual-capacity-detecting meansis less than a second predetermined value, said value being less thansaid first predetermined value; wherein said system control meanscontrols the system so that the operation of the equipment main body isstopped when said second residual-capacity-judging means judges thatsaid detected residual capacity of battery is less than said secondpredetermined value.
 9. A portable terminal equipment according to claim7, wherein said system control means controls the system so that thewarning-generating means generates the warning before the telephonecommunication is broken.
 10. A portable terminal equipment comprising: aresidual-capacity-detecting means for detecting a residual capacity of abattery; a first residual-capacity-judging means for judging whether ornot the residual capacity of battery detected by saidresidual-capacity-detecting means is less than a first predeterminedvalue, said first predetermined value designating the residual capacityof battery being capable of generating at least outgoing call; a secondresidual-capacity-judging means for judging whether or not said residualcapacity of battery detected by said residual-capacity-detecting meansis less than a second predetermined value, said second predeterminedvalue being less than said first predetermined value; and a systemcontrol means; wherein said system control means controls the system sothat the equipment main body shifts to a low-consumption standby mode inwhich a small amount of current is consumed, when said firstresidual-capacity-judging means judges that said detected residualcapacity of battery is less than said first predetermined value; andwherein said system control means controls the system so that theoperation of the equipment main body is stopped when said secondresidual-capacity-judging means judges that said detected residualcapacity of battery is less than said second predetermined value.